Display device including external light-absorbing layer

Abstract

A display device having improved image quality characteristics including a substrate including a transmission area and an emission area defined by a pixel-defining layer; a display element including a pixel electrode at least partially exposed by the pixel-defining layer, an intermediate layer arranged on the pixel electrode, and an opposite electrode arranged on the intermediate layer; a thin film encapsulation layer arranged on the display element, the thin film encapsulation layer including at least one inorganic encapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer; and an external light-absorbing layer at least partially overlapping the emission area and arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device comprising:
 a substrate including a transmission area and an emission area defined by a pixel-defining layer; 
 a display element including a pixel electrode at least partially exposed by the pixel-defining layer, an intermediate layer arranged on the pixel electrode, and an opposite electrode arranged on the intermediate layer; 
 a thin film encapsulation layer arranged on the display element, the thin film encapsulation layer including at least one inorganic encapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer; 
 an external light-absorbing layer at least partially overlapping the emission area and arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer; 
 a polarizing plate arranged on the external light-absorbing layer; and 
 a plurality of light control films arranged on the polarizing plate and spaced apart from each other by a first distance. 
 
     
     
       2. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the pixel-defining layer includes a first opening exposing at least a portion of the pixel electrode and the external light-absorbing layer includes a second opening exposing at least a portion of the thin film encapsulation layer. 
     
     
       3. The display device of  claim 2 , wherein the first opening in the pixel-defining layer has a first width, and the second opening in the external light-absorbing layer has a second width less than the first width. 
     
     
       4. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the external light-absorbing layer has a thickness of about 0.5 μm to about 3 μm and is arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer. 
     
     
       5. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the thin film encapsulation layer includes:
 a first inorganic encapsulation layer arranged on the display element; 
 an organic encapsulation layer arranged on the first inorganic encapsulation layer; and 
 a second inorganic encapsulation layer arranged on the organic encapsulation layer. 
 
     
     
       6. The display device of  claim 5 , wherein the external light-absorbing layer is arranged directly on the second inorganic encapsulation layer. 
     
     
       7. The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacer arranged on the pixel-defining layer, wherein the spacer and the pixel-defining layer include a same material. 
     
     
       8. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the light control films is arranged on the polarizing plate and forms a first inclination angle with a first axis of a plane including the first axis extending in a first direction and a second axis extending in a second direction crossing the first direction. 
     
     
       9. The display device of  claim 8 , wherein the first inclination angle is 30 degrees or less. 
     
     
       10. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first distance is about 35 μm to about 55 μm. 
     
     
       11. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the light control films has a thickness of about 80 μm to about 120 μm and is arranged on the polarizing plate. 
     
     
       12. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the opposite electrode extends toward the transmission area. 
     
     
       13. A display device comprising:
 a substrate including a transmission area and an emission area defined by a pixel-defining layer; 
 a display element including a pixel electrode at least partially exposed by the pixel-defining layer, an intermediate layer arranged on the pixel electrode, and an opposite electrode arranged on the intermediate layer; 
 a thin film encapsulation layer arranged on the display element, the thin film encapsulation layer including at least one inorganic encapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer; 
 an external light-absorbing layer arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer; 
 a plurality of light control films arranged on the external light-absorbing layer and spaced apart from each other by a first distance; and 
 a polarizing plate arranged between the external light-absorbing layer and the plurality of light control films. 
 
     
     
       14. The display device of  claim 13 , wherein the pixel-defining layer includes a first opening exposing at least a portion of the pixel electrode and the external light-absorbing layer includes a second opening exposing at least a portion of the thin film encapsulation layer. 
     
     
       15. The display device of  claim 14 , wherein the first opening in the pixel-defining layer has a first width, and the second opening in the external light-absorbing layer has a second width less than the first width. 
     
     
       16. The display device of  claim 14 , wherein the external light-absorbing layer at least partially overlaps the emission area and is arranged on the thin film encapsulation layer. 
     
     
       17. The display device of  claim 13 , wherein each of the light control films is arranged on the polarizing plate and forms a first inclination angle with a first axis on a plane including the first axis extending in a first direction and a second axis extending in a second direction crossing the first direction. 
     
     
       18. The display device of  claim 17 , wherein the first inclination angle is 30 degrees or less.